James Marshall Elementary, Sacramento CA

Original Research by School Decision on James Marshall Elementary

James Marshall Elementary is a public school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in Sacramento, located on the city's northeast side. The school enrolls a student body that is diverse in race and ethnicity, with roughly a third identifying as Hispanic, and a substantial share of other backgrounds including Asian, white, Black, and multiracial students. Nearly three-quarters of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the neighborhood.

On state assessments administered in spring 2025, the school's proficiency rates are low across both English language arts and math. In tested grades, proficiency rates in math ranged from a low of roughly one in ten students in grade four to about one in three in grade three. English language arts showed a similar pattern, with proficiency rates in the low twenties to low thirties across grades three through six. Science proficiency in grade five was also in the low twenties. Across all tested grades and subjects, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Sacramento County. These results reflect substantial academic challenges that a family would want to understand more fully by speaking with the school directly about support services, intervention programs, and what the school is doing to address the gap.

The school is part of Sacramento City Unified, a district currently navigating serious financial strain. In November 2025 the board approved a Fiscal Solvency Plan in response to a large and growing deficit that threatened state or county takeover. The district has issued layoff notices to hundreds of employees and delayed purchases of curriculum and technology. State oversight agencies have warned that cash reserves could run out without major intervention. These budgetary pressures affect classroom supplies, staffing stability, and the pace of instructional materials updates across the district. Families should be aware that this fiscal stress is ongoing and may shape what support services and resources are available in schools.

Additionally, Sacramento City Unified remains in the multi-year aftermath of an eight-day strike in spring 2022 that closed schools district-wide. To make up lost instructional time and avoid a state penalty, the district shifted school calendars earlier for multiple years, starting the 2024 and 2025 school years in mid-August rather than September. This adjustment continues to affect family planning and summer routines.

The district also passed a facilities bond (Measure D) in November 2024 that raises property taxes for school improvements, including STEAM classrooms, infrastructure upgrades, and new construction. While this represents a long-term investment in campus quality, it is a lasting property tax cost for families in the attendance zone.

The housing market in the 95827 zip code where James Marshall sits reflects moderate values with recent modest decline. Rental costs are below ownership costs on a monthly basis, which may make renting the more accessible option for some families in the area.

Kindergarten enrollment is available, and the school serves all primary grades through middle-grade transitions in sixth. A parent considering this school should discuss current intervention supports, class sizes, and staff stability with the school directly, given both the academic performance data and the district's current fiscal constraints.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 333%

School 33% · District 39% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 411%

School 11% · District 35% · ▼ 24 pts below district

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

Grade 513%

School 13% · District 28% · ▼ 15 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 627%

School 27% · District 36% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 330%

School 30% · District 37% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 425%

School 25% · District 39% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 521%

School 21% · District 39% · ▼ 18 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 627%

School 27% · District 44% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Science

Grade 520%

School 20% · District 28% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

This schoolSacramento City Unified, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income35%Higher-income15%20 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income15%Higher-income36%22 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income33%Higher-income31%2 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income4%Higher-income36%33 pp gap